Patent application title: SUPPORT SYSTEM, METHOD AND STORAGE MEDIUM

Abstract:

An editing process including generation, modification, and deletion of
pass points through which a linear structure such as a wire harness or
the like should pass in a virtual space is performed in accordance with
an operation of an input device by a user, a position of a pass point
generated in the editing process is managed by using a plurality of
position references to identify the position, and priority of the
plurality of position references for each pass point are managed and a
position of a pass point whose position has to be changed by an editing
process is managed in accordance with the priority when the editing
process is performed in accordance with an operation of the input device
by a user.

Claims:

1. A design support system for supporting a route design operation for
providing a deformable linear structure to a target, said system
comprising:an editing means for performing an editing process including
generation, modification, and deletion of pass point through which the
linear structure should pass in a virtual space in accordance with an
operation of an input device by a user;a position management means for
managing a position of the pass point generated by the editing means by
using a plurality of position references for identifying the position;
anda priority management means for managing priority of the plurality of
position references for each pass point, and causing the position
management means to manage, in accordance with the priority, a position
of a pass point whose position has to be changed by an editing process
when the editing means performs the editing process in accordance with an
operation of the input device by a user.

2. The design support system according to claim 1, further comprising:a
passing direction management means for managing whether or not to fix a
passing direction, for each pass point, of the linear structure passing
through the pass point in accordance with an instruction given by a user
through an operation of the input device.

3. The design support system according to claim 1, further comprising:a
reference coordinate management means for managing, for each pass point,
reference coordinates for identifying a passing direction of the linear
structure passing through the pass point in accordance with an
instruction given by a user through an operation of the input device.

4. The design support system according to claim 1, further comprising:a
display control means for making displayed content of the pass point
different in accordance with the priority managed by the priority
management means.

5. The design support system according to claim 1, wherein:the target is
one or more apparatuses handled separately.

6. A method of supporting, by using a computer, a route design operation
for providing a deformable linear structure to a target, said method
comprising:performing an editing process including generation,
modification, and deletion of pass point through which the linear
structure should pass in a virtual space in accordance with an operation
of an input device by a user;managing a position of the pass point
generated in the editing process by using a plurality of position
references for identifying the position; andmanaging the priority of the
plurality of position references for each pass point, and managing, in
accordance with the priority, the position of the pass point whose
position has to be changed by an editing process when the editing process
is performed in accordance with an operation of the input device by a
user.

7. The design support method according to claim 6, further
comprising:managing whether or not to fix a passing direction, for each
pass point, of the linear structure passing through the pass point in
accordance with an instruction given by a user through an operation of
the input device.

8. The design support method according to claim 6, further
comprising:managing, for each pass point, reference coordinates for
identifying a passing direction of the linear structure passing through
the pass point in accordance with an instruction given by a user through
an operation of the input device.

9. The design support method according to claim 6, further
comprising:managing, for each of the pass points, an attribute
representing a type of the pass point designated by a user through an
operation of the input device; andmaking displayed content of the pass
points different in accordance with the attributes.

10. The design support method according to claim 6, wherein:the target is
one or more apparatuses handled separately.

11. A storage medium storing a program for causing a computer used to
construct a design support system for supporting a route design operation
for providing a deformable linear structure to a target to implement:an
editing function of performing an editing process including generation,
modification, and deletion of pass points through which the linear
structure should pass in a virtual space in accordance with an operation
of an input device by a user;a position management function of managing a
position of a pass point generated by the editing function by using a
plurality of position references for identifying the position; anda
priority management function of managing priorities of the plurality of
position references for each of the pass points, and causing the editing
function to manage, in accordance with the priority, a position of a pass
point whose position has to be changed by an editing process when the
editing function performs the editing process in accordance with an
operation of the input device by a user.

12. The storage medium according to claim 11, further causing the computer
to implement:a passing direction management function of managing whether
or not to fix a passing direction, for each of the pass points, of the
linear structure passing through the pass point in accordance with an
instruction given by a user through an operation of the input device.

13. The storage medium according to claim 11, further causing the computer
to implement:a reference coordinate management function of managing, for
each of the pass points, reference coordinates for identifying a passing
direction of the linear structure passing through the pass point in
accordance with an instruction given by a user through an operation of
the input device.

14. The storage medium according to claim 11, further causing the computer
to implement:an attribute management function of managing, for each of
the pass points, an attribute representing a type of the pass point
designated by a user through an operation of the input device; anda
display control function of making displayed content of the pass points
different in accordance with the attributes managed by the attribute
management function.

Description:

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001]The present invention relates to a technology of supporting a route
design operation for deformable linear structure (e.g., wiring harness)
used in apparatuses such as electronic products, automobiles, etc., or
used for connecting a plurality of apparatuses disposed in separate
places.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002]Some products use wiring harness (called harness hereinafter) as
electric wires. Harness is deformable, and can be obtained by processing
wires or cables. Most apparatuses using a plurality of components, such
as automobiles or the like need harnesses. Thus, software for supporting
route-design operations of laying harness (referred to as route-design
support software hereinafter) has been marketed in recent years. CAD
(computer aided design) has been widely introduced to manufacturing
industries, and accordingly route-design support software usually uses
design data of an apparatus in order to design the routes of the
harnesses to be laid in the apparatus in a virtual space. A design
support system for supporting the route-design operation of laying
harnesses is realized by implementing the route-design support software
on a data processing apparatus (computer).

[0003]Harness is highly flexible. However, when a product is designed
without considering harness, matters concerning harness sometimes require
a design modification. This problem occurs because undesirable situations
that can accompany the use of harness are easily overlooked. Examples of
such undesirable situations include having to bend harness forcibly,
installation work characteristics are bad or having harnesses interfere
with other components. The route design using design data makes it
possible to easily avoid this kind of situation being overlooked.

[0004]In a route design operation using a design support system, pass
points, through which harness need to pass, are designated. When a
position of a pass point is to be designated in conventional method of
designating pass points, a position reference, which is a position
serving as a reference for determining the position of the pass point
being designated, is selected as an attribute of the pass point being
designated. Examples of position references include a reference based on
the origin of a coordinate system in a virtual space (called reference
coordinates hereinafter), a reference based on another pass point (called
relative coordinates hereinafter), and a reference based on a component
(model) disposed in a virtual space (called a model reference
hereinafter). These position references are referred to in order to
identify positions of pass points, and accordingly they are called
"reference destination" herein. The above coordinate system is defined on
the basis of the target scope of the route design. The entire apparatus
is managed by using another coordinate system (called an absolute
coordinate system).

[0005]Not all of designated pass points are always appropriate. Also, the
arrangement or types of other components may be changed. Thus, routes are
designed in such a manner that the routes can be modified after their
design is completed. In other words, users (persons who designed the
routes) can arbitrarily add and delete pass points, and also can change
their positions.

[0006]Conventional design support systems do not allow users to change the
attributes (position references), forcing users to delete undesirable
pass points and add a new pass points in order to change the attribute of
the undesirable pass point. Thus, designing routes has not been an easy
operation, and this has been problematic.

[0007]A position of a pass point is influenced as below by editing
operations such as addition, deletion, or changing the position (position
change) of other pass points, depending on the position reference
designated as an attribute.

[0008]A pass point based on reference coordinates is not influenced by the
addition, deletion, or position change of any pass points. It is not
influenced by the exchange of components or the position change of
components either. Accordingly, the position change requires the position
change (editing) of the pass point itself.

[0009]The position of a pass point based on relative coordinates is
changed in accordance with a change of the position of another pass point
serving as the reference of the pass point. When there is still another
pass point referring to thus position-changed pass point, the position of
that pass point is changed as well. In other words, when pass points are
successive in a relative coordinate system and a position of one of the
successive pass points is changed, the positions of all the subsequent
pass points are changed in accordance with the first position change of a
pass point. Accordingly, a position change of one pass point can
automatically cause position changes for a plurality of pass points (FIG.
29). Hereinafter, a pass point serving as a reference for pass points
based on relative coordinates is called a "parent", a pass point based on
relative coordinates referring to the parent is called a "child", and a
pass point based on relative coordinates referring to the child is called
a "grandchild".

[0010]The position management of pass points of relative coordinates
consists of storing relative positions with respect to parent pass
points. Thus, when a parent pass point is deleted, the information of the
parent pass point is stored in order to permit the identification of the
position of a child pass point. When a new pass point is to be added
between child and parent pass points, the new pass point being added is
made to be a parent, or to add other new pass point that the parent is
the new pass point.

[0011]A position of a pass point of a model reference is changed in
accordance with a change of a position or an orientation of a designated
component. Accordingly, a position change has to consist of a change of a
relative position with respect to a component or a change of a
position/orientation of the component itself. An exchange of a designated
component for another one makes it impossible to identify the positions
of pass points because the designated component serves as a reference. As
a result, another component has to be designated or a new pass point has
to be generated.

[0012]FIG. 29 illustrates a conventional technique of displaying pass
points and position changes made to pass points of relative coordinates.
In FIG. 29, a harness is provided between components A and B, and five
pass points with pass point numbers 01 through 05 are set between
components A and B. Pass points with pass point numbers 01 through 04 are
of relative coordinates, and the pass point with pass point number 05 is
of a model reference. The pass point with pass point number 01 (the first
pass point) is a parent of the pass points with pass point numbers 02 and
04, and the pass point with pass point number 02 is a parent of the pass
point with pass point number 03. Thereby, the positions of the pass
points with pass point numbers 02 through 04 are automatically changed in
accordance with the position change of the pass point with pass point
number 01. The pass point with pass point number 05 refers to component D
as a reference, i.e., a reference model, and accordingly the original
position of the pass point with pass point number 05 is not changed even
when the position of the pass point with pass point number 01 is changed.
The same symbols (black circles) are used to express the pass points with
pass point numbers 01 through 05 in FIG. 29.

[0013]As described above, when a position of one pass point is edited,
positions of other pass points are influenced in accordance with the
position reference set as an attribute. Accordingly, users select a
position reference taking this influence into consideration. However, in
the conventional method, the same symbols (black circles in this example)
have been used to display pass points regardless of their position
references (attributes), as illustrated in FIG. 29. Accordingly, it has
been difficult to find which pass point will have the position influenced
by the editing of other pass point, which is problematic.

[0014]When it is difficult to find which pass point will have the position
influenced, a longer time is required to confirm the position of the pass
point, which prevents smooth operations. Also, the relationship between a
pass point based on a model reference and a designated component is
difficult to understand, making it difficult to design routes. Therefore,
above problem is form not to be able to perform the route design easily.

[0015]Long harnesses have to be fixed at plural points. The fixation of a
harness limits the directions in which the harness can pass. Accordingly,
passing directions are designated for pass points of a model reference in
the conventional method.

[0016]Passing directions are influenced by the reference components.
Specifically, a change to the orientation of the component changes the
passing direction. When a passing direction is changed significantly, the
route design (arrangement of pass points) of the harness usually has to
be significantly modified. Accordingly, route design modifications often
have been required by a change in the arrangement of pass points when the
arrangement of components is not fixed. This is one of the factors that
makes route design operations difficult.

[0017]Harnesses themselves are deformable linear structure that can be
obtained by processing wires or cables. Not only are thin linear
structures such as electric wires, cables (including optical cables),
etc., provided to apparatuses, but thick linear structures, which are
relatively thick, are also provided. For example, cylindrical linear
structures are provided usually to allow fluid (such as air) to flow
through the structures themselves or to allow other linear structures to
run through the structures themselves.

[0018]These linear structures are provided not only between components in
one apparatus but also between components disposed in separate places.
Thus, routes are sometimes designed in order to provide linear structures
between separate components (apparatuses). This means that a target of
route design can be not only a single component, but also a plurality of
components disposed in separate places. In view of this, it is important
that routes be designed easily regardless of the variety of targets.

Patent Document 1:

Japanese Laid-open Patent Application Publication No. 2003-141197

Patent Document 2:

Japanese Laid-open Patent Application Publication No. 03-127272

Patent Document 3:

Japanese Laid-open Patent Application Publication No. 2002-99207

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0019]It is an object of the present invention to provide a technique of
facilitating route design operations for linear structures such as
harnesses or the like to be provided to a target.

[0020]A design support system according to a first aspect of the present
invention is a design support system for supporting a route design
operation for providing a deformable linear structure to a target, said
system comprising:

[0021]editing means for performing an editing process including
generation, modification, and deletion of pass points through which the
linear structure should pass in a virtual space in accordance with an
operation of an input device by a user;

[0022]position management means for managing a position of a pass point
generated by the editing means by using a plurality of position
references for identifying the position; and

[0023]a priority management means for managing the priority of the
plurality of position references for each pass point, and causing the
position management means to manage, in accordance with the priority, a
position of a pass point whose position has to be changed by an editing
process when the editing means performs the editing process in accordance
with an operation of the input device by a user.

[0024]In addition to the configuration of the above system of the first
aspect, a design support system according to a second aspect of the
present invention further comprises:

[0025]passing direction management means for managing whether or not to
fix a passing direction, for each pass point, of the linear structure
passing through the pass point in accordance with an instruction given by
a user through an operation of the input device.

[0026]In addition to the configuration of the above system of the first
aspect, a design support system according to a third aspect of the
present invention further comprises:

[0027]reference coordinate management means for managing, for each pass
point, reference coordinates for identifying a passing direction of the
linear structure passing through the pass point in accordance with an
instruction given by a user through an operation of the input device.

[0028]In addition to the configuration of the above system of the first
aspect, a design support system according to a fourth aspect of the
present invention further comprises:

[0029]display control means for making displayed content of the pass point
different in accordance with priorities managed by the priority
management means.

[0030]A design support method according to a first aspect of the present
invention is a method of supporting, by using a computer, a route design
operation for providing a deformable linear structure to a target, said
method comprising:

[0031]performing an editing process including generation, modification,
and deletion of pass points through which the linear structure should
pass in a virtual space in accordance with an operation of an input
device by a user;

[0032]managing a position of a pass point generated in the editing process
by using a plurality of position references for identifying the position;
and

[0033]managing priority of the plurality of position references for each
pass point, and managing, in accordance with the priority, a position of
a pass point whose position has to be changed by an editing process when
the editing process is performed in accordance with an operation of the
input device by a user.

[0034]In addition to the steps in the above method of the first aspect, a
design support method according to a second aspect of the present
invention further comprises:

[0035]managing whether or not to fix a passing direction, for each pass
point, of the linear structure passing through the pass point in
accordance with an instruction given by a user through an operation of
the input device.

[0036]In addition to the steps in the above method of the first aspect, a
design support method according to a third aspect of the present
invention further comprises:

[0037]managing, for each pass point, reference coordinates for identifying
a passing direction of the linear structure passing through the pass
point in accordance with an instruction given by a user through an
operation of the input device.

[0038]In addition to the steps in the above method of the first aspect, a
design support method according to a fourth aspect of the present
invention further comprises:

[0039]managing, for each pass point, an attribute representing a type of
the pass point designated by a user through an operation of the input
device; and

[0040]making displayed content of the pass point different in accordance
with the attributes.

[0041]Storage media according to first through fourth aspects of the
present invention are to be used for causing a computer used to construct
a design support system for supporting a route design operation for
providing a deformable linear structure to a target to implement a design
support, and respectively include functions for implementing the above
design support systems or the design support methods of the first through
fourth aspects.

[0042]In the present invention, an editing process including generation,
modification, and deletion of pass points through which a deformable
linear structure should pass in a virtual space (containing a target) is
performed in accordance with an operation of an input device by a user, a
position of a pass point generated in the editing process is managed by
using a plurality of position references for identifying the position,
and priority of the plurality of position references for each pass point
are managed, and thereby a position of a pass point whose position has to
be changed by the editing process is managed in accordance with the
priority when the editing process is performed in accordance with an
operation of the input device by a user.

[0043]A position of a pass point is managed by using a plurality of
position references, making it possible to reliably identify the position
even when one of the plurality of position references cannot be used.
Priorities are managed in order to manage positions of pass points in
accordance with the priorities, making it possible to appropriately use a
position reference that should be used. Even when a position reference
that should be used cannot be used, another position reference can be
used, making it possible to continue the management of position of pass
point.

[0044]These features make it possible to flexibly respond to a design
modification of the apparatus itself. The position reference to be used
can be selected by changing priority so that it is not necessary for
users to generate a new pass point in order to change position references
to be used. A position of a pass point can surely be identified even when
the design of the apparatus itself is modified. A situation in which a
pass point whose position cannot be identified due to an exchange of
parts or the like causing the necessity of an additional pass point is
surely avoided. As a result of this, users can design routes more easily.
When a target is a plurality of apparatuses that are disposed in
different places and treated separately and an arrangement modification
of the apparatuses occurs, this arrangement modification can also be
responded to appropriately for the same reasons.

[0045]In the present invention, whether or not to fix a passing direction
of a linear structure passing through a pass point in accordance with an
instruction given by a user through an operation of an input device is
controlled. Accordingly, in a section in which the directions should be
fixed (limited), the directions can be fixed, making it possible to
perform a route design in which harnesses in that section are maintained
in an appropriate shape. Accordingly, users can design routes more
easily.

[0046]In the present invention, reference coordinates for identifying a
passing direction of a linear structure passing through a pass point are
managed for each pass point in accordance with an instruction given by a
user through an operation of the input device. Accordingly, a passing
direction can be designated arbitrarily at a desired pass point. Further,
reference coordinates that allow an easy designation of passing
directions can be set for each pass point. Accordingly, users can design
routes more easily.

[0047]In the present invention, an attribute representing the type of a
pass point designated by a user through an operation of the input device
is managed for each pass point, and displayed content of each pass point
are made different in accordance with the attributes, allowing users to
easily understand the attribute of each pass point. Thereby, users can
also find pass point that is influenced by the editing of other pass
point. Accordingly, users can design routes more easily.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0048]FIG. 1 illustrates functions of a wire harness route generation
system including a design support system according to the present
embodiment;

[0050]FIG. 3A illustrates a pass point using a reference component
(model), i.e., the pass point using a model reference with the highest
priority;

[0051]FIG. 3B illustrates a pass point using reference coordinates with
the highest priority;

[0052]FIG. 3C illustrates a pass point using relative coordinates with the
highest priority;

[0053]FIG. 4 illustrates examples of a display of a route design;

[0054]FIG. 5A illustrates a change in display content caused by a position
change of the pass point 43 from the route design illustrated in FIG. 4;

[0055]FIG. 5B illustrates a change in display content caused by a position
change of the pass point 47 from the route design illustrated in FIG. 4;

[0056]FIG. 5C illustrates a change in display content caused by a position
change of the pass point 46 from the route design illustrated in FIG. 4;

[0057]FIG. 6A illustrates a change in display content caused by changing
priority 1 in a pass point 45 into absolute coordinates from the route
design illustrated in FIG. 4 and thereafter changing a position of the
pass point 43;

[0059]FIG. 6C illustrates a change in display content caused by changing
priority 1 of the pass points 44 and 46 from the route design illustrated
in FIG. 4;

[0060]FIG. 7A illustrates a route of a harness before the orientations of
parts are changed;

[0061]FIG. 7B illustrates a route of a harness after the orientations of
parts are changed;

[0062]FIG. 8 illustrates an example of displaying another route design;

[0063]FIG. 9 illustrates a result of a route design (first);

[0064]FIG. 10 illustrates a result of a route design (second);

[0065]FIG. 11 illustrates an example of a hardware configuration of a
computer capable of implementing a wire harness route generation system
including a design support system according to the present invention;

[0066]FIG. 12 illustrates a pass point position table;

[0067]FIG. 13 illustrates a harness table;

[0068]FIG. 14 illustrates a display table;

[0069]FIG. 15 illustrates a flowchart for a new-harness generation
process;

[0070]FIG. 16 illustrates a flowchart for a harness-extension generation
process;

[0071]FIG. 17 illustrates a flowchart for an addition process of a pass
point;

[0072]FIG. 18 illustrates a flowchart for a deletion process of a pass
point;

[0073]FIG. 19 illustrates a flowchart for a moving process of a pass
point;

[0074]FIG. 20 illustrates a harness selection window;

[0075]FIG. 21 illustrates a new-harness generation menu window;

[0076]FIG. 22 illustrates a pass-point generation menu window;

[0077]FIG. 23 illustrates another pass-point generation menu window;

[0078]FIG. 24 illustrates a priority menu window (when there is not a
reference model);

[0079]FIG. 25 illustrates a priority menu window (when there is a
reference model);

[0080]FIG. 26 illustrates a passing direction menu window;

[0081]FIG. 27 is a front view of an apparatus provided for each automated
machine 271;

[0082]FIG. 28 illustrates a wiring configuration at the back of the
automated machines 271; and

[0083]FIG. 29 illustrates a conventional technique of displaying pass
points and position changes made to pass points of relative coordinates.

BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0084]Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be explained
in detail by referring to the drawings.

[0085]FIG. 1 illustrates functions of a wire harness route generation
system (hereinafter, called a "generation system") including a design
support system according to the present embodiment. A generation system 2
supports operations of a route design that targets flexible harnesses
illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10 as linear structures. The design support
system according to the present embodiment is implemented by the
generation system 2.

[0086]An input device 1 to be operated by users and an output device 3 are
connected to the generation system 2. Examples of the input device 1 are
a pointing device such a mouse or the like, and a keyboard. An example of
the output device 3 is a display device such as a liquid crystal display
device, or the like. The generation system 2 edits pass points in
accordance with the user's operations input into the input device 1 for
designing routes, and displays a result of the editing or the harnesses
whose routes have been designed.

[0088]The harness management unit 21 manages a route design for each
harness. The three-dimensional model management unit 22 manages design
data (model data) of components arranged in an apparatus that has been
three dimensionally designed. Model data is stored in a model data
database (hereinafter, called a "DB") 22a, and is managed by a
verification model management unit 22b. The pass point management unit 23
manages pass points in units of a single harness under the control of the
harness management unit 21. In addition, the pass point management unit
23 includes a priority management unit 23a, an individual pass-point
position managing unit 23b, a passing direction management unit 23c, a
passing direction reference coordinate management unit (hereinafter,
called a "coordinate management unit") 23d, and a pass point attribute
management unit 23e. The display unit 24 displays images on the input
device 1. Images for displaying generated pass points are generated by a
pass point display unit 24a. A route generation unit 25 generates routes
for harnesses.

[0089]FIG. 11 illustrates an example of a hardware configuration of a
computer capable of implementing the generation system 2. A configuration
of a computer capable of implementing the generation system 2 will be
explained specifically before FIG. 1 is explained in detail. In order to
avoid confusion, explanations below are given on the assumption that the
generation system 2 is implemented by a single computer whose
configuration is illustrated in FIG. 11.

[0090]The computer illustrated in FIG. 11 includes a CPU 61, a memory
device 62, an input device 63, an output device 64, an external storage
device 65, a media driving device 66, and a network connection device 67
connected to one another via a bus 68. The configuration illustrated in
FIG. 11 is an example and the scope of the present invention is not
limited to this example.

[0091]The CPU 61 controls the computer entirely.

[0092]The memory device 62 is a memory device such as a RAM device or the
like for temporarily storing programs or data held in the external
storage device 65 or a transportable storage medium 69. The memory device
62 stores programs and data when the programs are to be executed or the
data is to be updated. The CPU 61 loads the programs into the memory
device 62, and reads and executes the loaded programs in order to control
the entire computer.

[0093]The input device 63 has an interface connected to the input device 1
such as a keyboard, a mouse or the like, or has all these devices. The
input device 63 detects operations by users on the input device 1, and
reports the detection results to the CPU 61.

[0094]The output device 64 includes a display control device connected to,
for example, the output device 3 in FIG. 1, or includes these devices.
The output device 64 causes the output device 3 in FIG. 1 to display data
transferred under the control of the CPU 61.

[0095]The network connection device 67 performs communications with
external devices via a network such as the Internet, intranet, or the
like. An example of the external storage device 65 is a hard disk device.
The external storage device 65 is used mainly for storing data and
programs.

[0096]The media driving device 66 accesses the transportable storage
medium 69 such as an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, or the like.

[0097]A result of a route design is stored in the memory device 62 or the
external storage device 65. Design data including model data of an
apparatus to which harnesses are provided is stored in the external
storage device 65 or the transportable storage medium 69. To aid in
understanding herein, design data is assumed to be stored in the external
storage device 65. In such a case, the DB 22a is stored in the external
storage device 65.

[0098]A design support system (generation system 2) according to the
present embodiment is realized by the implementation, by the CPU 61, of
programs having functions of the generation system 2 (hereinafter, called
"Design support software"). The design support software can be
distributed, for example, in the form of the transportable storage medium
69, and can be obtained via the network connection device 67. Herein, the
software is assumed to be stored in the external storage device 65.

[0099]In the above assumed conditions, the harness management unit 21 is
realized by, for example, the CPU 61, the memory device 62, the input
device 63, the external storage device 65, and the bus 68. The pass point
management unit 23, the route generation unit 25, and the
three-dimensional model management unit 22 are realized by, for example,
the CPU 61, the memory device 62, the external device 65, and the bus 68.
The display unit 24 is realized by, for example, the CPU 61, the memory
device 62, the output device 64, the external storage device 65, and the
bus 68.

[0100]The present embodiment facilitates route design operations in the
manner described below. For the explanations below, FIGS. 2 through 8 are
referred to.

[0101]In the present embodiment, as position references for determining
positions of pass points, reference coordinates based on the origin of a
coordinate system of a virtual space (containing the target), relative
coordinates based on another pass point, and a model reference based on a
component (model) disposed in a virtual space are prepared (this is the
same as in the conventional methods), and the positions are managed using
a plurality of the position references. Specifically, the position
management of a pass point for which a model reference is designated uses
reference coordinates and relative coordinates in addition to the model
reference. The position management of a pass point for which a model
reference is not designated uses reference coordinates and relative
coordinates. Because positions are managed by using a plurality of
position references, priorities are managed as attributes to be used for
determining the position reference that is considered effective. Thereby,
the position of a pass point for which a model reference, relative
coordinates, and reference coordinates are designated (in the order
starting from the one with the highest priority) is identified by using
the relative coordinates when the designated component (reference model)
is changed, and when its parent pass point is deleted together with the
change of the reference model, the position is identified by using the
reference coordinates. This is applied also to a pass point using two
types of position references for the position management.

[0102]By using a plurality of (plural variety of) position references for
the position management, the position of a pass point can be surely
identified even when other pass points are deleted and reference models
are changed. This eliminates the necessity of a modification of other
pass points and the addition of new pass points, facilitating route
design operations (editing of pass points). The present embodiment allows
users (designing personnel) to arbitrarily change priorities. Thereby,
the positions of pass points can be managed by using desirable position
references, facilitating route design operations.

[0103]The coordinate system used for reference coordinates (hereinafter,
called a "target coordinate system") is defined in the target range in
which routes are designed, and the entire apparatus is managed on the
basis of a different coordinate system (hereinafter, called an "absolute
coordinate system").

[0104]FIG. 2 illustrates position management conducted for a generated
pass point. In FIG. 2, a harness is provided between components A and B,
and five pass points with pass point numbers 01 through 05 are generated
between components A and B. Three pass points, with pass point numbers
01, 02, and 04, use model references with the highest priority ("priority
1" in FIG. 2; this expression will be used hereinafter). The second
highest priority ("priority 2", similarly) is given to the relative
coordinates in pass point 04. The highest priority is given to the
relative coordinates in the pass point with pass point number 03. In
order to facilitate the understanding of relationships between pass point
numbers and pass points herein, the pass point numbers are assigned to
the pass points in ascending order starting from one of components A and
B. "Hns0001" in FIG. 2 is an ID assigned to be used for the
identification of harnesses for which routes are designed.

[0105]In FIG. 2, the position of component C is moved. The pass points
with pass point numbers 01 and 02 refer to component C as a reference
model. In response to this movement of the position of component C, the
positions of those pass points are automatically changed in association
with one another so that the relative positions are maintained. The
position change of the pass point with pass point number 02 causes an
automatic position change of the pass point with pass point number 03
because the pass point with pass point number 02 is the parent of the
pass point with pass point number 03 so that the relational position
between them is maintained.

[0106]The pass point with pass point number 04 refers to component D as a
reference model. Because the position of component D has not been
changed, the position of the pass point with pass point number 04 has not
been changed. When component D is deleted, the position of the pass point
with pass point number 04 is automatically changed in accordance with the
position change of the pass point with pass point number 03 because
priority 2 is given to relative coordinates.

[0107]FIGS. 3A through 3C illustrate the display content of pass points on
the basis of position references with the highest priority. FIG. 3A
illustrates a pass point having a reference component (model), i.e., the
pass point using a model reference with the highest priority. FIG. 3B
illustrates a pass point using reference coordinates with the highest
priority. FIG. 3C illustrates a pass point having relative coordinates
with the highest priority.

[0108]As illustrated in FIGS. 3A through 3C, in the present embodiment,
pass points can be expressed using different figures, i.e., a rectangle,
a circle, or a triangle. Thereby, the position reference with the highest
priority can easily be found for each pass point. Accordingly, when the
position of a pass point is changed, a pass point that is influenced by
that change can be identified easily. Facilitated identification of a
pass point that will be influenced also facilitates editing of pass
points with the consideration of the influence, realizing route design
operations at a higher speed and in a more appropriate manner.

[0109]FIG. 4 illustrates examples of a display of a route design. This
route design consists of the generation of eight pass points 41 through
48. Pass points 41, 46, and 48 use a model reference with priority 1,
pass points 42, 43, and 47 use reference coordinates with priority 2, and
pass points 44 and 45 use relative coordinates with priority 1. Pass
point 41 was generated at a position closest to the starting point, i.e.,
pass point number 01 is assigned to pass point 41.

[0110]FIG. 8 illustrates an example of displaying another route design.
This route design is for a harness 80 starting from a connector 81 in a
component whose reference model (component) name is "ABC.prt". The ID of
the harness 80 is "Hns001". In FIG. 8, the position references with
priority 1 for the four pass points 82 through 85 are as described below.

[0111]Pass point 82 with pass point number -1 refers to a component 86
whose reference model name is "AAA.prt", and priority 1 is given to the
model reference. Pass point 83 with pass point number -2 refers to the
pass point 82 as a parent, and priority 1 is given to the relative
coordinates. Pass point 84 with pass point number -3 refers to a
component 87 whose reference model name is "BBB.prt", and priority 1 is
given to the model reference. In pass point 85 with pass point number -4,
priority 1 is given to the reference coordinates.

[0112]FIGS. 5A through 5C and 6A through 6C illustrate display content
changing in response to the editing of the route design illustrated in
FIG. 4. Next, changes in display content in response to editing will be
explained specifically by referring to FIGS. 5A through 5C and 6A through
6C.

[0113]FIGS. 5A through 5C illustrate display content changing in response
to the editing of changing positions of pass points. FIG. 5A illustrates
a change in the display content caused by a position change of pass point
43. FIG. 5B illustrates a change caused by a position change of pass
point 47. FIG. 5C illustrates a change caused by a position change of
pass point 46. The position change of pass point 46 can be caused by
changes in the relative position with respect to the reference model or
of the arrangement (position or orientation) of the reference model.

[0114]In FIG. 5A, the position change of pass point 43 has caused position
changes of pass points 44 and 45 in an associated manner. Pass point 44
refers to pass point 43 as a parent, and pass point 45 refers to pass
point 44 as a parent. In FIGS. 5B and 5C, the positions of only the
edited pass points 47 and 46 have been changed. These figures illustrate
that which of the pass points will be influenced by a position change of
another pass point is easily found because different content is displayed
depending upon the position reference having priority 1.

[0115]FIGS. 6A through 6C illustrate display content changing in response
to the changing of the priorities. FIG. 6A illustrates a change in the
display content caused by changing priority 1 in the pass point 45 into
absolute coordinates and thereafter changing a position of pass point 43.
FIG. 6B illustrates a change in the display content caused by changing
priority 1 of pass points 44 and 46. FIG. 6C illustrates a change in the
display content caused by changing priority 1 of the pass points 44 and
46. In FIG. 6B, priority 1 in pass points 44 through 47 is changed into
absolute coordinates, and priority 1 in pass point 45 is changed into the
model reference. As illustrated in FIGS. 6A through 6C, changes in
priority 1 can easily be recognized as well.

[0116]On each pass point, whether or not to fix the passing direction of a
harness passing through the pass point can be designated as an attribute.
Pass points are displayed in different colors depending upon the
attribute, i.e., whether or not the passing directions are fixed so that
users can recognize the differences easily.

[0117]FIGS. 7A and 7B illustrate the route change of a harness that result
depending upon whether or not the passing directions in pass points are
fixed. In FIGS. 7A and 7B, numeral 70 denotes a harness, numerals 71
through 74 denote pass points, numeral 75 denotes a component serving as
a reference model, and numerals 76 and 77 denote components that are not
a reference model. Arrow a represents the orientation of the component
75, and arrow b represents the direction of the harness 70. FIGS. 7A and
7B use a route of the harness 70 to illustrate a pass point direction in
the case when only the passing direction at the pass point 73 is referred
to.

[0118]In FIG. 7A, the pass points 71 through 74 are arranged to form a U
shape. Thus, the harness 70 greatly curves at the pass point 73. In FIG.
7B, the component 75 has been swung on an axis 75a, and the passing
direction denoted by arrow b has also been changed so that it is parallel
to the component 75 because the passing direction of pass point 73
corresponds to the direction of the component 75. Thereby, it is not
necessary to greatly curve the harness 70 at the pass point 74 to make
the route between pass points 72 and 74 appropriate.

[0119]A route that is fixed without referring to a model for the passing
direction is maintained similarly to the route between pass points 73 and
74 illustrated in FIG. 7B even when the component 75 is changed in its
orientation, as illustrated in FIG. 7A. As is obvious from this, an
appropriate selection of a pass point at which the passing direction is
fixed makes it possible to maintain the shape of a route in a section in
which the shape of a route must not be changed. Whether or not to fix the
passing direction can be set for each pass point, and thus the above
section can be arbitrarily selected. Accordingly, great convenience is
achieved, facilitating a route design operation.

[0120]In the present embodiment, the passing direction is fixed by
selecting a position reference for the direction. Thereby, the passing
direction can be selected at a desired position reference so that easy
and appropriate designation of a pass point is realized. This means, in
the example of FIGS. 7A and 7B, that it is possible to designate a
passing direction at the pass point 73 by referring to, for example, one
of the components through 77, or by referring to another pass point such
as pass point 72. Herein, in order to avoid confusion, the position
reference is called "Passing direction reference coordinates".

[0121]FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate a result of a route design operation. FIG.
9 illustrates a harness 90 provided between components 91 and 92. This
route is designed by generating three pass points 95 through 97. FIG. 10
illustrates an apparatus 100 to which the harness is actually provided.
The apparatus 100 is a cash dispenser (CD) used in convenience stores or
the like. In FIG. 10, numeral 101 denotes a display device, numeral 102
denotes an operation input unit, numeral 103 denotes a card insertion
slot, numeral 104 denotes a cash outlet, numeral 111 denotes an upper
unit, numeral 112 denotes a cash drain unit, numeral 113 denotes a
controller, numeral 114 denotes a power unit, and numerals 121 through
125 denote harnesses. The two harnesses 121 and 122 connected to the
power unit 114 are connected to the controller 113 and the upper unit
111, respectively. The controller 113 is connected to the upper unit 111
via the three harnesses 123 through 125.

[0122]Next, the operations of the respective units 21 through 24 for
implementing the support of a route design operation will be explained in
detail referring to FIG. 1 again.

[0123]The harness management unit 21 analyzes operations input into the
input device 1, recognizes instructions from the user, and executes
processes in accordance with the instructions. The executed processes
implement a route design operation, and data of pass points generated as
a result of the design operation is generated and stored by the pass
point management unit 23.

[0124]The pass point management unit 23 generates a pass point position
table illustrated in FIG. 12 for each of the harnesses that are the
targets of a route design operation in accordance with editing operations
by a user. The pass point position tables are updated as necessary. A
harness table illustrated in FIG. 13 used for managing the pass point
position table is generated and updated by, for example, a harness
management unit 21. The pass point position table illustrated in FIG. 12
is generated from the route design operation illustrated in FIG. 8.

[0125]Data in the pass point position table is stored for each of the pass
points managed by using pass point numbers. The data stored in this table
includes relative position coordinates (A), relative position (X1, Y1,
Z1, RXa, RXa, RXa), reference position coordinates (B), reference
position (X2, Y2, Z2, RXb, RXb, RXb), reference model name (C), reference
model relative position, priorities 1 through 3, whether or not a passing
direction is fixed, passing direction reference coordinates, and passing
directions RX through RZ.

[0126]The data "relative position coordinates (A)" indicates a pass point
(parent) serving as a reference destination when priority 1 is given to
relative coordinates. "H1" stored as data of a pass point with pass point
number 1 (starting point) is for a target coordinate system to which
reference coordinates are applied. This is because a pass point serving
as the starting point does not have a parent pass point.

[0127]The data "relative position" indicates a relative position with
respect to the parent pass point. "X1, Y1, Z1" represent position
differences on the respective axes, and "RXa, RXa, RXa" represent the
orientation differences on the respective axes. The data "reference
position coordinates" indicates a target coordinate system to which the
reference coordinates are applied. The data "reference position"
indicates a position/orientation of the origin of the target coordinate
system. "X2, Y2, Z2" represent positions with respect to the origin on
the respective axes. "RXb, RXb, RXb" represent orientations (angles) with
respect to the origin on the respective axes. The reference model name
corresponds to the ID of a component referred to. The data "reference
model relative position" indicates a relative position with respect to a
reference model. The relative position is expressed in the form of
differences on the respective axes. Priorities 1 through 3 are used to
manage priorities among reference coordinates, relative coordinates, and
a model reference. "A" through "C" expressing stored data represent
relative coordinates, reference coordinates, and a model reference,
respectively. "Whether or not to fix a passing direction" illustrates
whether or not a passing direction is fixed. "ON" means that the
direction is fixed. "OFF" means that the direction is not fixed. The data
"passing direction reference coordinates" indicates a position reference
set for the designated passing direction. "Passing directions RX through
RZ" represent the designated passing directions.

[0129]The passing direction management unit 23c extracts data of priority
1 and whether or not to fix the pass point for each pass point, and
transmits the data to the pass point display unit 24a in the display unit
24. The pass point display unit 24a refers to the display table
illustrated in FIG. 14 in accordance with the transmitted data,
determines the display content (i.e., the shape and the color), and
causes the output device 3 to display the information in the determined
color and shape. The display position is determined by referring to, for
example, data of the reference position. Thereby, pass points are
displayed as exemplified in FIGS. 4 through 6C or FIG. 8. In FIG. 14, the
expression "having reference model" means that priority 1 is given to a
model reference, and the expression "having reference model" means that
priority 1 is given to reference coordinates, and the expression
"relative position" means that priority is given to relative coordinates.
The expression "passing direction is fixed" means that a pass point is
fixed, and the expression "pass point not fixed" means that a pass point
is not fixed. The expressions "Display 001" through "Display 006"
represent IDs of image data used for displaying pass points whose
attributes are identified by, for example, two pieces of attribute data.

[0130]The harness table illustrated in FIG. 13 stores, for each harness
(or for an ID assigned to each harness), an offset of the target
coordinate system (the position difference of the origins between the
absolute coordinate system and the target coordinate system, which is
called "harness reference coordinate origin from absolute coordinate
system" in FIG. 13), the number of the drawing depicting the route
design, the name of the harness, the name of the model to which the
starting-point connector is provided, the pass point number, and the name
of the model to which the ending-point connector is provided. The pass
point numbers are assigned starting from the starting-point connector,
and therefore are serial.

[0131]The route generation unit 25 refers to the pass point position
table, and thereby generates the route of the harness designed by a user
while considering the harness identified on the basis of the shape of the
cross section of the harness in order to transmit the generation result
to the display unit 24. Thereby, the harness provided along the route is
displayed as the design result on the output device 3. The generation of
the route can be performed by, for example, the technique disclosed by
Patent Document 1.

[0132]Next, the operations of the above generation system 2 will be
explained by referring to the flowcharts illustrated in FIGS. 15 through
19. For simplicity, the processes will be explained for each of the
various cases, namely, a case in which a harness is to be generated
newly, a case in which a pass point is to be added to respond to an
extended harness, a case in which a pass point is to be added
arbitrarily, a case in which a pass point is to be deleted, and a case in
which a pass point is to be moved. The series of processes will be
explained in a simplified manner. All of these processes are implemented
by the CPU 61 (illustrated in FIG. 11) loading design support software
stored in the external storage device 65 into the memory device 62 and
executing them.

[0133]FIG. 15 illustrates in detail a flowchart for anew-harness
generation process executed when a new harness is to be generated.

[0134]When being activated, the above design support software displays an
initial menu window, and prompts the user to select a desired function in
the window. Route design operations must be able to be performed
independently for different apparatuses. Accordingly, when a route is
designed for a new harness, an apparatus that is the target of the route
design has to be selected by the user. An apparatus does not always have
to be selected. The selection of an apparatus corresponds to the
selection of model data as the target to be read from the DB 22a by the
three-dimensional model management unit 22.

[0135]For the above reasons, it is determined, in step S1, whether or not
an apparatus as the route design target has been selected. When an
apparatus has been selected, the determination result is Yes and the
process proceeds to step S2, in which the model data of the selected
apparatus is accessed. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S3. When
an apparatus is not selected, the determination result is No, and the
process proceeds to step S3. By accessing the model data, the apparatus
is displayed (FIG. 23). The explanations given hereinafter are based on
the assumption that the target of the route design is the displayed
portion. The drawing number of the displayed portion is stored in the
harness table (FIG. 13).

[0136]In step S3, an edit menu window (not illustrated) is displayed in
order to prompt the user to select a form of editing. Examples of the
form of editing are an update (editing of an existing route design),
generation of a new harness, and the like. When the user has selected
"generation of new harness", a new-harness-generation menu window
illustrated in FIG. 21 is displayed, and the user is prompted to input
data of the harness whose route is to be newly designed. The ID of the
harness and the shape of the cross section are input as the data. The
route design starts when the "pass point definition start" button is
pushed. When this button is clicked, the process proceeds to step S4.
"Hns0001" represents the input ID.

[0137]The generation of a pass point consists of selecting a position
reference to which priority 1 is to be given by moving the mouse cursor.
In step S4, the pass point-generation menu window illustrated in FIG. 22
is displayed, the mouse cursor is moved in response to the input of the
user, and the menu waits for the user to click the position. When the
user has clicked the position, the process proceeds to step S5.

[0138]The pass-point generation menu window illustrated in FIG. 22 is used
to prompt the user to select the position reference to which priority 1
is to be given, and has three buttons, i.e., a "point on plane" button, a
"center of circle" button, and an "offset" button. When either the "point
on plane" button or the "center of circle" button is clicked, a model
reference is set. When the "offset" button is clicked, relative
coordinates are set. When the "point on plane" button is clicked, the
passing direction of the harness is fixed biaxially (fixed to be on the
plane on which the reference model is designated). When the "center of
circle" button is clicked, the passing direction is fixed triaxially (a
point whose position was designated serves as an axis). The reference
model is a component existing at the clicked position. The "end" button
is used to terminate the route design operation. The "cancel" button is
used to invalidate the route design result.

[0139]In step S5, the system waits until one of the buttons ("point on
plane", "center of circle", or "offset") is clicked, and when one of them
is clicked, it is determined whether or not the clicked button is the
button "point on plane" or "center of circle". When the clicked button is
one of the two buttons, i.e., when the user has selected a model
reference, the determination result is Yes, and the relative position
from the reference model selected arbitrarily is obtained in step S6, and
thereafter the process proceeds to step S7. When neither of these buttons
has been clicked, i.e., the user has clicked the "offset" button, the
determination result is No, and the process proceeds to step S7. The
relative position with respect to the reference model is obtained by for
example calculating the difference between the reference model and the
designated position.

[0140]The pass point to be generated first does not have a parent pass
point. Accordingly, when there is not a pass point that has already been
generated, the "offset" button is displayed in an unselectable state
(this is not illustrated any of the drawings).

[0141]In step S7, a reference position and a relative position are
obtained in order to perform the position management respectively by
using reference coordinates and relative coordinates. For example, a
reference position is obtained by calculating the coordinates of the
designated position on the target coordinate system, and a relative
position is obtained by calculating a difference with respect to the
parent pass point for each of the coordinate axes. For the first pass
point, the reference position is obtained as a relative position (FIG.
12). In step S8, pass point numbers to be assigned to the pass points
whose positions have been obtained are automatically set. This automatic
setting is performed so that the numbers are ordered in ascending order
starting from the first pass point. Thereafter, the process proceeds to
step S9.

[0142]The processes in steps S4 and S5 correspond to the processes
implemented by the harness management unit 21. The processes in steps S6
through S8 correspond to the processes implemented by the individual
pass-point position managing unit 23b of the pass point management unit
23. The object of obtaining data of all the available positions is to
surely identify the positions of pass points even when the component
designated as the reference model is exchanged. The situation in which
necessary positions cannot be obtained due to an error occurring while
deleting a pass point is also avoided surely. Thereby, data is stored
highly securely.

[0143]In step S9, priorities are automatically set. When the "point on
plane" button or "center of circle" button has been clicked, the priority
order starting from the highest priority is model reference, relative
coordinates, and reference coordinates. When the "offset" button has been
clicked, the order is relative coordinates and reference coordinates. The
priority order that has been automatically set can be modified by
referring to the corresponding property of a pass point. The process in
step S9 corresponds to the process implemented by the priority management
unit 23a of the pass point management unit 23. After step S9, the process
proceeds to step S10.

[0144]In step S10, it is determined whether or not the passing direction
of the harness has been designated. When the "point on plane" button or
"center of circle" button has been clicked, the determination result is
Yes, and the fixation of the pass point is set in accordance with the
type of the clicked button. In step S11, the passing direction is
designated on a designation menu for designating passing directions.
Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S12. When the "offset" button
has been clicked, the determination result is No, and the process
proceeds to step S12. The process in step S10 corresponds to the process
implemented by the passing direction management unit 23c and the
coordinate management unit 23d of the pass point management unit 23.

[0145]As described above, passing directions can be fixed in two ways.
Accordingly, two types of data are prepared for representing the fixation
of pass points. Thereby, it is possible to determine whether or not a
passing direction is fixed and to determine the manner of the fixation if
a pass point is fixed. The designation menu window is for prompting the
user to designate, for example, an angle between a fixation axis and the
passing direction, although this is not illustrated in a drawing.

[0146]In step S12, routes of all the harnesses that pass through the
generated pass points are generated, and the result is displayed. Also,
newly generated pass points are displayed in accordance with their
attributes. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S13, and it is
determined whether or not the user is going to generate a next pass
point. This determination is made, for example, on the basis of whether
or not a new position has been designated. When the user has designated a
new position, the determination result is Yes, and the process returns to
step S4 in order to execute processes in response to that new position
designation. When it is determined that the position designation was not
made and the "end" or "cancel" button was clicked, the determination
result is No, and the pass point position table is stored as necessary
(FIG. 12) and a series of the processing is terminated. Specifically,
with the "end" button being clicked, the pass point position table is
stored, and with the "cancel" button being clicked, the table is deleted.

[0147]FIG. 23 illustrates another pass point generation menu window.

[0148]This pass point generation menu window has a frame with the title
"point restriction" and includes two buttons. One of the two buttons
corresponds to the "point on plane" button, and the other button
corresponds to the "center of circle" button. In FIG. 23, numerals 231
through 233 denote pass points generated in the route design for a
harness 230. Arrows 235 through 237 extending from pass points 231
through 233 represent the directions of the harnesses passing through
pass points 231 through 233. The pass point generation menu window can
employ the same configuration as that illustrated in FIG. 23, and also
can employ a different configuration. In other words, the configuration
of the window is not particularly limited, and this is applied to other
windows.

[0149]As described above, the present embodiment automatically sets
priorities, and the set priorities can be changed by referring to the
properties of pass points. Whether or not to fix passing directions
(including the manner of the fixation) and the position of pass points
are attributes that can be modified. Herein below, the manner of
modifying the attributes will be explained specifically by referring to
FIGS. 24 through 26.

[0150]When referring to the above property, a property window (not
illustrated) is displayed. The property window is used to confirm the
setting content of attributes and modification of the set content. The
property window has buttons for selecting the content for each type of
the attributes. For simplicity herein, a button for selecting a priority
is called a "priority" button, and a button for selecting whether or not
to fix passing directions is called a "passing direction" button. The
menu windows illustrated in FIGS. 24 through 26 are windows displayed in
response to the clicking of one of the above buttons. In addition to the
above buttons, there is a "pass point position" button for selecting a
position of a pass point and a "passing direction fixation" button for
selecting the fixed passing direction.

[0151]First, a manner of modifying a priority will be explained.

[0152]When a user clicks the "priority" button in the priority window, the
priority menu window illustrated in FIG. 24 or 25 is displayed in
accordance with the set priority. FIG. 24 illustrates a case in which a
priority including the model reference is set. FIG. 25 illustrates a case
in which the priority of a model reference is not set.

[0153]In FIGS. 24 and 25, the expressions "not influenced by others
(position with respect to reference)", "influenced by previous pass point
(relative position)", and "influenced by reference component"
respectively represent reference coordinates, relative coordinates, and a
model reference. Priorities are changed by changing values in the input
boxes disposed before those expressions. The values "1" through "3" in
the input boxes represent the priorities. The position reference before
which option buttons are disposed in place of the input boxes are
invalidated. The model reference that is invalidated in FIG. 24 is
validated by clicking an option button and inputting a reference model
name in a reference model (component) name input box. The "select" button
is for selecting a reference model name from among components. When a
model reference is validated and the priority menu window is closed,
input reference model name and the relative position with respect to the
reference model are newly stored in the pass point position table data of
a pass point whose priority has been changed, and the priorities are
updated.

[0154]Next, a manner of changing the setting of whether or not to fix
passing directions will be explained.

[0155]When a user clicks the "passing direction" button on the property
window, the passing direction menu window illustrated in FIG. 26 is
displayed. On the menu window are the expressions "not fixed (no fixation
axis)", "fixed (three-axes fixation)", and "fixed on plane (two-axes
fixation)", and option buttons are disposed before these expressions.
Whether or not to fix pass points and a manner of the fixation is
selected by changing option buttons that express the marks (in FIG. 14,
black circles are used to express the marks). When a passing direction is
to be fixed newly, the reference model name is to be input in a similar
manner to the priority.

[0156]Also, when the "pass point position" button and the "passing
direction fixation" button are clicked, a window concerning which
positions of pass points can be changed (not illustrated) and a window
concerning which fixed passing direction can be modified (not
illustrated) are displayed. Thereby, users can arbitrarily modify the
positions of pass points and passing directions.

[0157]FIG. 16 illustrates a flowchart for a harness-extension generation
process executed when a pass point is to be added in order to extend a
harness. Next, this process will be explained in detail by referring to
FIG. 16.

[0158]This editing is performed on an existing route design. Accordingly,
the user selects the "update" button in the edit menu window. Herein,
only the processes executed after the "update" button is selected will be
explained for the simplicity.

[0159]First, in step S21, the harness selection window illustrated in FIG.
20 is displayed in accordance with the selection of the "update" button.
The selection window is used to select which harness is to be edited from
among the harnesses whose route design results are stored, and displays a
list of the harnesses. A harness is selected by clicking the "OK" button
after selecting one of the harnesses on the list. Thereafter, the process
proceeds to step S22.

[0160]In step S22, the route design result of the harness selected by the
user is read from, for example, the external storage device 65, and is
displayed. The pass point located at the end is displayed in a selected
manner. This is for the purpose of facilitating the selection of the
relative coordinates of the pass point located at the end. The pass point
generation menu illustrated in FIG. 22 is displayed together. In step
S23, the mouse cursor is moved in accordance with the operation of the
input device by the user, and the system waits for the user to perform a
clicking operation to designate a position. When this clicking operation
is performed, the process proceeds to step S24.

[0161]In step S24, the system waits until one of the buttons ("point
onplane", "center of circle", and "offset") is clicked, and determines
whether or not the clicked button is either the "point on plane" button
or the "center of circle" button. When one of these two buttons is
clicked, i.e., when the user selects a model reference, the determination
result is Yes, and the relative position with respect to the reference
model designated in the position selection is obtained in step S25.
Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S26. When none of the two
buttons is clicked, i.e., when the "offset" button is clicked, the
determination result is No, and the process proceeds to step S26.

[0162]In step S26, a reference position and a relative position are
obtained for managing positions on the basis of reference coordinates and
relative coordinates respectively. In step S27, it is determined whether
or not the pass point whose position was designated is the top. When the
user has selected a position that is closer to the starting point than
the pass point that was closest to the starting point (this situation
corresponds to a case in which a route is designated from the ending
point toward the starting point), the determination result is Yes, and
the pass point numbers of the existing pass points are incremented by one
in step S28. In step S29, the number of the pass point whose position was
designated is set to one. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S31.
When the above condition is not satisfied, the determination result is
No, and the pass point numbers that have already been assigned to pass
points are automatically set in step S30. Thereafter, the process
proceeds to step S31.

[0163]The processes executed in steps S31 through S35 are fundamentally
the same as those in steps S9 through S13 illustrated in FIG. 15. Thus,
the explanation thereof will be omitted. When the determination result in
step S35 is Yes, the process returns to step S23.

[0164]FIG. 17 illustrates a flowchart for an addition process executed
when a pass point is to be arbitrarily added. This addition process will
be explained in detail by referring to FIG. 17. In this explanation too,
the processes executed after the "update" button is selected in the edit
menu window will be explained in detail. The addition of a pass point
consists of prompting the user to select two adjacent pass points and to
designate the position at which the pass point is to be added.

[0165]First, in step S41, the harness selection window illustrated in FIG.
20 is displayed, and the user is prompted to select a desired harness. In
step S42, the system waits for the user to select the first pass point by
clicking, etc. In step S43, the system waits for the user to select the
second pass point. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S44, and the
pass point menu window illustrated in FIG. 22 is displayed. Then, the
system waits for the user to click a position while moving the mouse
cursor in accordance with the operation of the input device by the user.
After the user has clicked the position, the process proceeds to step
S45.

[0166]In step S45, the system waits until one of the buttons ("point on
plane", "Center of circle" or "Offset") is clicked, and determines
whether or not the clicked button is either the "point on plane" button
or the "center of circle" button. When one of these two buttons is
clicked, i.e., when the user selects a model reference, the determination
result is Yes, and the relative position with respect to the reference
model designated in the position selection is obtained in step S46.
Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S47. When none of the two
buttons is clicked, i.e., when the "offset" button is clicked, the
determination result is No, and the process proceeds to step S47.

[0167]In step S47, a reference position and a relative position are
obtained for managing positions on the basis of reference coordinates and
relative coordinates respectively. In step S48, the relative positions of
pass points referring to the newly added pass point as a parent are
modified. In step S49, the pass point numbers of the pass points that are
greater than the greater of the two numbers of the two pass points
selected respectively in steps S42 and S43 are incremented by one. In
step S50, the greater of the two pass point numbers between the two pass
points is set as the number of the newly added pass point. Thereafter,
the process proceeds to step S51.

[0168]The processes executed in steps S51 through S54 are fundamentally
the same as those in steps S9 through S12 illustrated in FIG. 15. Thus,
the explanation thereof will be omitted. After step S54, the process
proceeds to step S55.

[0169]In step S55, it is determined whether or not the user is going to
add a next pass point. This determination is made, for example, on the
basis of whether or not a new pass point has been selected. When the user
has selected a new pass point, the determination result is Yes, and the
process returns to step S42, and processes are executed in response to
the selection. When the user has given an instruction to terminate the
editing without selecting anything, the determination result is No, and a
series of the processes are terminated after storing the pass point
position table (FIG. 12) as necessary. When the user has given an
instruction to store the editing result, the pass point position table is
updated and stored. When the user has not given an instruction to store
the editing result, the pass point position table is deleted.

[0170]FIG. 18 illustrates a flowchart for a deletion process of an added
pass point executed when a pass point is to be deleted. This deletion
process will be explained by referring to FIG. 18. Similarly to the above
explanation, the processes executed after the "update" button is selected
in the edit menu window will be explained in detail.

[0171]First, in step S61, the harness selection window illustrated in FIG.
20 is displayed in response to the selection of the "update" button in
order to prompt the user to select a desired harness. In step S62, the
system waits for the user to select the target of deletion by, for
example, clicking on it. Next, the process proceeds to step S63.

[0172]In step S63, the relative positions of the pass points having
assigned pass point numbers that are greater by one than the pass point
number of the selected pass point are changed (updated). In step S64, the
pass point numbers of pass points having assigned pass point numbers
greater than the number of the selected pass point is decremented
(updated) by one. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S65.

[0173]In step S65, a new route is generated considering this deletion, and
the generation result is displayed. In step S67, it is determined whether
or not the user is going to delete a next pass point. This determination
is made, for example, on the basis of whether or not a new pass point has
been selected. When the user has selected a new pass point, the
determination result is Yes, and the process returns to step S62 in order
to execute the processes in response to the selection. When the user has
given an instruction to terminate the editing without selecting anything,
the determination result is No, and a series of the processes are
terminated after storing the pass point position table (FIG. 12) as
necessary. When the user has given an instruction to store the editing
result, the pass point position table is updated and stored. When the
user has not given an instruction to store the editing result, the pass
point position table is deleted.

[0174]FIG. 19 illustrates a flowchart for a moving process of an added
pass point executed when a pass point is to be moved. This moving process
will be explained by referring to FIG. 19. Similarly to the above
explanations, the processes executed after the "update" button is
selected in the edit menu window will be explained in detail. The moving
of a pass point consists of the designation of the position as the moving
destination performed after the selection of the pass point to be moved.

[0175]First, in step S71, the harness selection window illustrated in FIG.
20 is displayed in response to the selection of the "update" button in
order to prompt the user to select a desired harness. In step S72, the
system waits for the user to select the target of deletion by clicking on
it, etc. Next, the process proceeds to step S73.

[0176]In step S73, the system waits for the user to designate the position
as the moving destination. In step S74, the pass point is moved to the
designated position. In step S75, it is determined whether or not there
is a pass point that will be influenced by the moving of the pass point.
A pass point referring to the moved pass point as a parent and using the
relative coordinates with priority 1 will be influenced. Accordingly,
when there is such a pass point, the determination result is Yes, and the
process returns to step S75 after moving the pass point that will be
influenced in step S76. It is determined whether or not there is a pass
point that will be influenced by the moving in step S76, and all pass
points that will be influenced by the pass point moved by the user are
moved. When there is not a pass point that will be influenced, the
determination result is No, and the process proceeds to step S77.

[0177]In step S77, a new route is generated considering this deletion, and
the generation result is displayed. In step S78, it is determined whether
or not the user is going to move another pass point. This determination
is made, for example, on the basis of whether or not a new pass point has
been selected. When the user has selected a new pass point, the
determination result is Yes, and the process returns to step S72 in order
to execute the processes in response to the selection. When the user has
given an instruction to terminate the editing without selecting anything,
the determination result is No, and a series of the processes are
terminated after storing the pass point position table (FIG. 12) as
necessary. When the user has given an instruction to store the editing
result, the pass point position table is updated and stored. When the
user has not given an instruction to store the editing result, the pass
point position table is deleted.

[0178]In the present embodiment, the priorities of newly generated pass
points are automatically set; however, it is also possible to employ a
configuration in which the priorities are displayed so as to allow the
user to change the priorities. Ways of generating, deleting, and moving
pass points or a way of modifying attributes are not particularly
limited, and various alterations are allowed as necessary.

[0179]In the present embodiment, linear structures whose routes are to be
designed are harnesses and the target of the support of the route
designing is an apparatus; all of these are treated as a single product
as illustrated in FIG. 9 or 10. However, as long as they are deformable
(or flexible), the linear structures may be an electric wire, a cable,
etc., and also may be objects for allowing fluid such as air, liquid, or
the like to flow through themselves or for allowing other linear
structures to run through themselves. With three-dimensional design data,
routes can be designed considering deformations in a virtual space.
Accordingly, deformable narrow components that can be handled in a
virtual space can be a target of the route design support.

[0180]Targets of the route design support can be automobiles, motorcycles,
automated machines except for a cash dispenser, or other apparatuses
using linear structures, such as electronic products. As described below,
a plurality of apparatuses disposed in separate places (such as
apparatuses that are independently utilized to function as a single
product) can be a target. This will be explained specifically by
referring to FIGS. 27 and 28. FIGS. 27 and 28 illustrate an example of a
case when a plurality of apparatuses are treated as a target. More
specifically, this example is for a case when a plurality of automated
machines such as ATMs or the like are to be set in a space in a building
used by a financial facility such as a bank.

[0181]FIG. 27 is a front view of an apparatus provided for each of the
automated machines 271. As illustrated in FIG. 27, each automated machine
271 has a telephone 272 for communications with clerks and a security
camera 273. Numeral 274 denotes a display device for displaying
information for customers using the automated machine 271.

[0182]FIG. 28 illustrates a wiring configuration at the back of the
automated machines 271. As illustrated, each automated machine 271 is set
with its back portion slightly projecting from a wall 280. The automated
machine 271, the camera 273, and the display device 274 are provided on
the wall 280. Numeral 281 denotes a server computer for
controlling/managing these members. The server computer 281 is connected
to another server computer (not illustrated) or to a host computer via a
LAN (cable) or the like.

[0183]The respective automated machines 271 are connected to one another
via the server computer 281 and cables 282. The telephones 272, the
cameras 273, and the display device 274 are respectively connected to the
server computer 281, via cables 283, 284, and 285. The entire cable 282
connected to the automated machines 271 is provided on the floor, and
other cables 283 through 285 are partially adhered to the wall 280.

[0184]As illustrated in FIG. 28, the route design in which a plurality of
apparatuses 271 through 274 and 281 are connected to one another via the
cables 282 through 285 can be performed in the virtual space by preparing
design data of the apparatuses 271 through 274 and 281 and dimension data
(three-dimensional data) of the wall 280 and the floor, and treating the
portions on the wall 280 for passing the cable as a component set as the
starting point or the ending point. Thereby, a plurality of apparatuses
can be a target of a route design for a linear structure. The target
apparatuses do not have to be provided on the same floor. In other words,
a plurality of apparatuses disposed on different floors can be a target.